“Okay, then. Since neither of you will own up to the truth, I have no choice but to give you both Saturday detention. I’ve already called your mother. She will be here in a few minutes to discuss what happened today.”
My jaw clenched.Son of a bitch.
What had I been thinking, going after Ava? Now I was stuck facing Angie, who definitely was day drinking and I’d been avoiding. She was the last person I wanted to see.
I didn’t know how, but this was Carter’s doing, attempting to force me back home so he could impose his blackmail upon me.
Over my dead body would I help him.
My eyes glanced to the door as I contemplated how much trouble I’d be in if I got up and ran.
Principal Wallis must have picked up on my sudden discomfort. “I know it can’t be an easy transition for you, starting a new school your senior year, but Josie, you have less than seven months until graduation. I hope that we can get through those months without any more incidents.”
“If only we lived in a perfect world.”
She cleared your throat. “Is there something going on at home? My door is always open if you need someone to talk to.”
My tone went flat. “Is that all?”
“Yes. I hope the next time I have you in my office it will be under more positive circumstances. You can wait in the lobby with Ava for your mother,” she instructed, peering at me through her glasses.
Ava scowled when she saw me, obviously blaming me for this crappy situation we were both in. She refused to look at Brock or the guys, who hadn’t moved from their spots.
“Let me guess, Josie Jo, you earned yourself a Saturday.” Micah sounded as if he was very familiar with the discipline process at the Academy, and I had no doubt he and the others had spent many Saturdays in detention.
Before I could answer, the lobby door swung open, and Angie strolled in full of glitz, false glamour, and… booze. Stumbled into the lobby might have been a more appropriate description. My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. This wasn’t the first time she’d come to my school drunk, but for her to do so in front of the Elite, particularly Grayson, and Ava, sent me spiraling in shame.
She already carried the label gold digger. Tomorrow, she’d also be known as the boozy leech. My fight with Ava would be old news by the time Angie and I walked out of the school. Just one more thing to be whispered through the halls.
Her eyes fell upon me. Disapproval gleamed in her expression. Scowling, she went into see Principal Wallis, returning just a few minutes later. The frown still graced her lips. “Josephine, we’re going home.”
I didn’t want to make a scene in school and especially not in front of Ava. My gaze shifted to the hard set of Brock’s face. I silently begged him with my eyes.Not here.
He blinked.
Poor Grayson looked caught between seeing a ghost and wanting to commit murder.
Only two periods of classes remained in the day, but I didn’t even argue that. Standing up, I followed the clicking of Angie’s heels, leaving the lobby. The exit doors to the main parking lot were right outside the principal’s office. As Angie pushed open the door, she finally realized we weren’t alone.
The Elite flanked me on either side, Brock and Fynn on my right and Micah and Grayson on my left.
Her glossy eyes narrowed. “What is this?” she asked as we all stepped out into the afternoon sun. Autumn breezes blew along the building, sending loose strands of Angie’s sleek black hair flying.
“Josie isn’t going home with you,” Brock declared. The cocky expression on his face taunted her to challenge him.
“Josephine, in the car. Now,” Angie ordered, sultry red lips puckered in displeasure at being defied by a boy. Her feet faltered, weight shifting. Standing in place didn’t mix with spike heels and afternoon cocktails.
Brock’s frown deepened. “No, your daughter isn’t safe at that house. She stays with us.”
Mom shot daggers at him. What she was really upset over wasn’t that I had gotten into a fight, but that I might have told Brock about what went on behind closed doors at the Pattersons’. “I don’t know who you think you are—”
He bulldozed over her, cutting Angie off. “Isn’t it your daughter’s safety all that’s really important here?”
She recoiled like Brock had slapped her. “Leave my daughter alone. She doesn’t needyourhelp.”
They didn’t care that we were on school property. This was their turf. “Too bad. She already has it,” Fynn said as he took a step so I was slightly shielded by him.
“How dare you,” she protested, her chin lifting.